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Post by sexxiejessie on Jan 2, 2007 14:12:03 GMT -4
i just want some advice about my 2 month old dwarf hamster (Chinno).
He has become extremely lazy, and spends all day and night in a coconut bed that i bought him. He never comes out of it by choice, and when put in his ball, he cleans him self and stays stationary in one place. He never explores his tube or uses his wheel. Hes been to the vet, and was checked for broken limbs, diabetes, wet tail, and many other things that could contribute to this change in behavior, and nothing is wrong with him.
I just wanted to know if i am being a cruel owner, by removing his coconut nest, once a day, so that Chinno will run around. Only when his nest is gone does he burrow, run in his wheel, or explore the levels of his home?? Should i just leave his habitat be? I feel like "forcing" him to run around is benefiting his health.
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Post by hamwolf89 on Jan 2, 2007 16:36:33 GMT -4
some hamsters are lazy like that. but they really need the exercise so you can let it room your room. watch very carfully so it wont get under something. maybe build a little playground in the middle of the room.
if not the hamster may become stressed. show it some funnnn weeeee
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Post by pinky on Jan 2, 2007 16:52:13 GMT -4
Welcome to RR!  Sleeping all day is usual behavior for hamsters. My Fuzz isn't active till after the sun goes down and my bedroom is dark. Could it be that Chinno is getting his exercise, exploring, etc. while you are asleep and unaware? If the room light is on in the evening, Fuzz won't come out from within his bedding until after I go to sleep. If I want to play with him I have to leave the light off and wait till he's out and about, at which point I can turn on the light and easily take him out. Otherwise I'd have to dig him out of the bedding, and I don't do that. If I wasn't sure whether Fuzz was active at night I'd check his wheel, because he uses it as a bathroom as he runs. I imagine that most hamsters do. If Chinno's wheel is clean to begin with and smelly in the morning, you have proof that your little guy is busy while you're snoozing! ;D I'm sure other members will weigh in on this too! |
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Post by Hamsters82 on Jan 2, 2007 18:23:38 GMT -4
Could it be also that maybe Chinno is still uncomfortable with his surroundings? When did you get him?
I think taking out his bed is fine if you know he's more active without it. Try getting some other toys for him and play with him more often, maybe that way he'll want to come out and play.
Hope this sort of helps and welcome to RR!
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Post by sexxiejessie on Jan 2, 2007 19:44:29 GMT -4
It could be that he is uncomfortable, i only had him for a month!!
Can you suggest any toys i should give him, i have a few things (splinter-free wooden toys for his teeth, a wheel, ball, and tubes.)
But i don't think toys could even get him out of his bed .lol
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Post by Hamsters82 on Jan 2, 2007 19:48:51 GMT -4
I'd get any toy you'd think he likes. Know his personality and go from there, that's what I did with my hamsters. Does he like to climb?...get him a toy that he can climb on. Digging...get an igloo or something else.
Some like to bite on toilet paper rolls (without the toilet paper on of course). They can go through them and bite on them too.
Maybe a maze or one of those playpens, since Chinno's a dwarf, he won't be able to climb out of the playpens. You could put different toys in there.
Maybe you can get him out with a treat. Try some treats, I can always get Chewie up with treats, but he's learned to come out without them, but treats usually do it for any animal. Just don't give him too much.
Hope that sort of helped. By the way, how did you get Chinno's name?
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Post by sexxiejessie on Jan 2, 2007 20:07:34 GMT -4
yah, treats have worked....but he only like sweets like raisins and those hamster treats that look like white chocolate chips, lol, so i try to avoid them. I don't want to increase his diabetes risk.
p.s. his name is a short form of cappuccino, because he is a hybrid, and his belly color is the reason i chose him, its like the froth color on a cappuccino. Hes SOO cute!!
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Post by pinky on Jan 2, 2007 20:17:37 GMT -4
Maybe a maze or one of those playpens, since Chinno's a dwarf, he won't be able to climb out of the playpens. You could put different toys in there. Fuzz is a Chinese, but he's the size of a dwarf. . . . I got him a playpen when he was still very young, and much to my surprise he shimmied up the bars in a flash! So it went back to PetsMart, and I found a plastic under-bed box to use as a hamster playpen. |
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Jan 2, 2007 21:19:20 GMT -4
Stay away from the sweets with dwarfs! Change the surroundings, and use different bedding. Have a Silent Spinner wheel or a mouse wheel with a solid (not runged surface). Get tubes to be explored - but expect them to be pooped in! try to encourage him to move for treats handed out. Vary the lighting patterns so that it is more likely he will be awake at the same time as you. The other advice in this thread is also good. Glad to see you posting! And good luck. |
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Post by hamwolf89 on Jan 3, 2007 2:03:40 GMT -4
yeah as DF is trying to say is that everyday(perferably evening) get a treat and wake him up by smell only. Soon he will be awake at that same time everyday which will be good time to play! (treats that are good for hamsters)
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